Once you have determined that the dampness affecting a wall is due to a defective damp proof course, or complete lack of one, then treatment can be relatively simple.

Treatment Stages

There are a few stages to treat the affected walls. Once it has been determined which walls required treatment, the next stage is to have the wall plaster removed usually up to a height of 1 meter or above and to expose the brickwork beneath.

The walls are then ready for a new damp proof course. To create this the mortar bed is drilled into by forming a series of 10mm holes and the siliconate formula is injected under low pressure into the brickwork to become the new course.

External ground levels

It is not uncommon from the external ground level of a property to rise over time as garden debris and external additions such as driveways are added. This rise in ground level may means that the internal floor level is now below the external and this causes moisture from the surround underground soil to push against the brickwork allowing the wall to be damp.

To rectify this walls may be tanked using a waterproof slurry to create a barrier against this moisture. Following this the walls are then replastered using a mix which includes waterproof additive and salt inhibitors to complete the fully effective treatment. The final stage of works is the drying out process, a typical 9” brick work wall can take around 6-9 months to fully dry but redecoration can take place after 4-5 weeks subject to using a breathable non vinyl paint.

Next: How to damp proof a basement.